Friday, April 29, 2016

Yes, a mattress! We were at Walmart on Wednesday and couldn't pass up this bargain. It was a full-size 6" mattress in a box.

Since this is a guest room, we figured we could get by with an inexpensive mattress. I had been researching these mattresses on the Internet and had planned to have one shipped to our home. When we saw this in the store, we decided to go ahead and get it right away.

My grandma's black iron bed is perfectly suited for a 6" mattress, as the original mattresses for these beds would not have been as thick as most of today's mattresses. This bed sits pretty high even without a mattress.

We both tested the mattress yesterday and found it to be quite comfortable.

Since most of our guests will be adults and the other guest room has a queen bed with a firmer mattress, this room will usually be used by teens and younger children. Plus, there's a twin-size bed in the loveseat in this room, so kids can even double up in here.

By the way, do you know why iron beds became so popular in the 1800's and early 1900's? Termites couldn't eat the iron and rodents couldn't climb the iron posts! Yikes! Unless you were wealthy, you usually didn't use a dust ruffle with your iron bed - as that would give rodents easy access.

Don't worry about the blankets getting pulled to one side and touching the floor during the night, though. We don't have rodents in our home!

Monday, April 25, 2016

It's amazing how adding a few doors can make such a difference in a home. Up until recently, we were immediately greeted by an unfinished closet to our left when we entered our house through the garage/laundry room door. Well, not anymore!

That's soooo much better! That black hole of a closet even sucked us in every time we walked into the kitchen from the great room.

Now, it blends in. My eyes really appreciate that.

Steve also installed the bifold doors on the foyer closet a while ago.

Aaahhh!

And, he started the install of the linen closet doors in the master bath on Saturday evening. He still needs to adjust them a bit, add the knobs and install the trim, but I'm so happy they're up!

My sweet hubby even indulges his wife by fulfilling her request to cover that metal track at the top of the bifolds with a thin piece of pine. If you look back at the photos from the laundry room and foyer, you'll notice how much better they look with the track hidden.Shut. The. Door! Who knew I could get so excited about some bifolds?All is well in the Keweenaw.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Although I had been anticipating a visit any day now, I was still surprised when the girls decided to make their first Spring appearance on my birthday this morning. Here's Mama. . .

and here's last year's offspring (just above the snow line in the upper right of the next photo).

Junior-ette stopped cautiously when she heard a Pileated Woodpecker nearby.

Mama headed straight for Spring brunch at the bird feeder, but Junior-ette headed to the spot where we had sugar beets and apples last fall.

I'm not sure what she found, but she was there for several minutes before she went off to join Mama.

They've been with the other local deer for the last few months - yarded up in Eagle River - avoiding the deeper snow in these higher elevations of the peninsula - and sheltering under the trees at the shoreline. We're so happy to see them back again. And, they're looking pretty healthy this year - thanks to regular winter feedings by the Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen's Club and other groups.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

I'm beginning a new feature on the blog today - inspired by this space above the stove.

We'll have black walnut upper (and lower) cabinets in our kitchen in the future. There's an electrical outlet hiding under this Ceresota Flour board in the spot where our combination microwave/range hood will be mounted when those uppers go in. I was living with that large gap between the flour board and the top of the stove for the last year, but I was determined to find something to fill it when we were in the Saginaw area a few weeks ago.

Success! I spent some time at Hobby Lobby and found this board with 3 clips attached. (3 Clips + Board = Clips-Board)

The size was acceptable and the colors were right.

Plus, I can change the messages on this clips-board whenever the mood strikes!

Friday, April 15, 2016

We're going back upstairs to give you a peek at Guest Room 2. As we go up the steps, you'll notice that I put a clear glass bulb in the rattan rope pendant light, and we get a cool pattern on the tongue & groove when the light is on now.

When we glance to our right when we reach the top of the stairs, we see Guest Room 1.

Nothing new here - just a few minor changes on the bedside tables.

We turn to the left and see something different in Guest Room 2.

A bed! Hmmm. Does it look a little strange - or is it just me?

Nope. There's definitely something wrong. The mattress is missing! Actually, I haven't ordered it yet. We're experiencing some warmer temps and the driveway is a bit of a mess, so I don't want a delivery truck driving down it right now. Soon, very soon.

Wait a minute. There's something else really strange about that last photo. Did you notice the lampshade? OK, look at the next photo.

Do you see it now?

I know! It looks like a gigantic bug is on the inside of my lampshade!

We do have some insanely large bugs in the Keweenaw, but that isn't one of them. I can assure you that was just a shadow created by the lamp harp and finial. Whew!OK, back to the room - from another angle.

I moved the chest of drawers that was in the loft into this room now.

This full-size bed is another piece from my grandmother's house. We also have a hide-a-bed loveseat with a twin mattress - just out of sight to my right - so this will be a good room for kids to share when we have guests.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The best thing about traveling down to the Saginaw area is seeing family. This little guy has changed so much since we last saw him in May.

Please ignore the coolers and other items in the background. We do a lot of shopping when we're down there.

Max enjoyed playing with his birthday gift. He's a big boy of 2 now.

Although he may be a little young, Grandpa wanted to give him his first fishing pole.

Grandpa also treated everyone to dinner at Bob Evans.

Our meals took forever to get to the table, but Max was very good. Steven and Beth were understandably concerned about the delay, as a 2-year-old can be a ticking time bomb (as Steven put it).

Now the girls - Grace & Wylo - sweet as ever! Wish we could have taken them home with us!

Here's Grandpa & Max. Grandpa was trying to diffuse the possibility of the bomb going off by whisking him off to a quiet corner. I'm told they were counting coat hooks.

Dinner finally made it to the table. Not sure what Max is doing with his grilled cheese - maybe just showing it to us?

"Gampa, up. Gampa, up!" After Max was finished eating his food, he wanted to eat Gampa's broccoli. That sure warmed a grandpa's heart.

Aunt Carrie shared her water with him, too.

How did we not get a photo of Carrie & Shawn together? Rats. We loved the time we spent with everyone, but a delightful 2-year-old always seems to steal the attention - especially when he's done with the broccoli and moves on to a lemon! Way too cute!

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Blog Author: Julie Hamilton

Blessed to live in the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Born again believer since 1980. Happy Wife. Yooper Wannabe. Homebody. Frugal. Imperfect Perfectionist. I enjoy Bible study, genealogy, American history, the Keweenaw Peninsula (with & without snow), home decor, sunsets and a good belly laugh. Most at home in the middle of nowhere. I could easily spend an entire day gazing at Lake Superior, the blue sky, waterfalls, rocks, trees or hills.

Decorating Style: I lean toward "Trad-Rustic". (Traditional with Old &/or Rustic elements added in for the fun of it.)